ARIA Charts Throwback: 18 February 1990

Hurry up and bring your jukebox money and get groovin’ to the hits of February 1990!

The second month of the 90s found the ARIA Albums Chart dominated by the likes of Aerosmith, Martika, Phil Collins, Elton John, Lisa Stansfield, The B-52’s, Cher and more.

On the Singles Chart, an American band was staging a comeback with a song that would go on to become a perennial dancefloor filler.

10. Midnight Oil - Blue Sky Mine

The first single from Midnight Oil’s Blue Sky Mining (#1 Mar. ’90) gave the Sydney band their fifth appearance in the ARIA Top Ten when it peaked at #8 in March 1990. The album also produced the singles ‘Forgotten Years’ (#26 Jun. ’90), ‘King Of The Mountain’ (#25 Oct. 90) and ‘Bedlam Bridge’ (#46 Nov. ’90).

9. Alannah Myles - Black Velvet

Canadian artist Alannah Myles took out her only Top Ten on the ARIA Singles Chart when ‘Black Velvet’ hit #3 for two weeks in early-1990. The track came from Myles’ self-titled debut album (#2 May ‘90), as did her other chart hits: ‘Love Is’ (#12 Apr. ’90) and ‘Lover Of Mine’ (#47 Oct. ’90).

8. Milli Vanilli - Girl I'm Gonna Miss You

Milli Vanilli scored their biggest hit in Australia when ‘Girl I’m Gonna Miss You’ peaked at #3 in March 1990. The act’s career drastically fizzled out at the end of 1990, when it was revealed that front men Fab Morvan and Rob Pilatus didn’t actually sing on Milli Vanilli’s releases.

7. Deborah Harry - I Want That Man

Blondie front woman Deborah Harry took out her second Top Ten single as a solo artist on the ARIA Charts when ‘I Want That Man’ peaked at #2 in January 1990. The single came from Harry’s third solo album, Def, Dumb & Blonde (#10 Feb. ’90).

6. Peter Blakeley - Crying In The Chapel

Sydney soul singer Peter Blakeley scored his greatest success on the ARIA Singles Chart when ‘Crying In The Chapel’ peaked at #3 in February 1990. The track, as well as Blakely’s version of ‘First Time Ever I Saw Your Face’ (#21 Apr. ’90), appeared on the album Harry's Café De Wheels (#3 Jul. ’90).

5. Technotronic Feat. Felly - Pump Up The Jam

Belgian electronic act Technotronic made their debut on the ARIA Singles Chart when ‘Pump Up The Jam’ peaked at #4 I February 1990. They scored a second Top Ten single later that year with ‘Get Up! (Before The Night Is Over)’ (#7 Apr. ’90). Both featured on the album Pump Up The Jam (#22 Apr. ’90).

4. Bad English - When I See You Smile

‘When I See You Smile’ became Bad English’s only entry in the ARIA Top Ten when it peaked at #4 in January 1990. The US #1 came from the supergroup’s self-titled debut album (#12 Feb. ’90). Their only other chart appearance was with ‘Price Of Love’ (#44 Apr. ’90).

3. Black Box - Ride On Time

Black Box took out the first of their three Top Ten entries on the ARIA Singles Chart when ‘Ride On Time’ hit #2 in January 1990. The Italian house act later charted with ‘I Don't Know Anybody Else’ (#6 May ’90) and ‘Fantasy’ (#3 Feb. ’91). All three songs featured on the #1 album Dreamland (#1 Mar. ’91).

2. Aerosmith - Janie's Got A Gun

American rockers Aerosmith scored their first #1 on the ARIA Singles Chart when ‘Janie's Got A Gun’ spent one week in the top spot in February 1990. Taken from the album Pump (#1 Feb. ’90), the single spent eight weeks in the Top Ten and 18 weeks in the Top 50. The band would later spend nine weeks at #1 with ‘I Don't Want To Miss A Thing’ (#1 Sept. ’98).

1. The B-52's - Love Shack

The only #1 single on the ARIA Charts for American band The B-52's came when ‘Love Shack’ spent eight consecutive weeks at the summit between Dec. ’89 and Feb. ’90. The second single released from Cosmic Thing (#1 Jan. ’90), the fifth studio album by the band, ‘Love Shack’ debuted at #27 in November 1989. It hit #1 for the first time in its fifth week in the Top 50. In total, ‘Love Shack’ spent 13 weeks in the Top Ten and 23 weeks in the Top 50. It was #10 on the 1990 ARIA End Of Year Singles Chart and was accredited 2x Platinum.